Santa Clarita, California

Most Californians favor an active outdoor lifestyle, and locals in Santa Clarita are no exception. The weather can get uncomfortably warm in the summer, but there is no shortage of biking, hiking, and other outdoor play to enjoy. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, locals say Towsley Canyon Loop, Placerita Canyon, and Whitney Canyon are a must. If biking is your thing, you can bike for miles in Santa Clarita without being bothered by a single car. There are also bike clubs, like Santa Clarita Velo, if you’re looking for biking + a social scene.

Although Santa Clarita is a suburban haven away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, if you choose to commute, you’re going to have a bad time. Over 75% of people in the area are car-dependent, which can clog the streets during the morning and evening commute. Commuting times of 90-120 minutes are not uncommon, and keep your fingers crossed there are no major accidents, which means traffic will reach an infuriating standstill.

We highly recommend visiting Santa Clarita and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

Santa Clarita has a definite suburban feel. If you get a bird’s eye or drone view of the city, you’ll see rows and rows of neatly stacked homes surrounded by mountains. Made up of mostly homeowners, you’ll find a lot of young professionals and families here, either working from home or commuting into LA every day. On the weekends, locals will be planning trips to Santa Monica or Ventura for some beach time or out in the many parks with family enjoying the nice weather.

Check out the Santa Clarita calendar of events to see what happens here.

Santa Clarita is known as a commuter town, with many(too many) people driving to LA for work during the week. Most people who work in the city are in health care, retail, film, or education. Unemployment in Santa Clarita is lower than both the California and national average, with companies like Princess Cruises and Honda Performance Development calling Santa Clarita home. One of the biggest employers in the area is the popular Six Flags Magic Mountain, just outside city limits.